Anyone else doing veganuary?

[Ozzyskye]

I'm a guilty meat eater but for the past few years have done vegetarianuary. This year I want to try veganuary, at least at home (we go to pil for dinner once a week and don't want to add pressure!). Is anyone else giving it a go? Want to share any ideas? I could also do with losing a stone but though calorie counting and veganuary might be a bit much. I'm also doing dry January so that'll help hopefully!

My usual go to food is hearty food like stews, toad in the hole, cottage pie etc...

I can make a mean Passata for pasta, and I'm thinking chunky vegetable soups, tofu stir frys etc but would welcome any ideas! Also will look into some smoothies and juices with coconut milk or overnight oats for breakfast (when I actually eat it) I drink a lot of coffee but already prefer with oat milk.

I'm not planning on continuing past January, I enjoy meat and dairy too much but am willing to commit for a month at least and maybe discover some tasty dishes to integrate into my repertoire!

I'll join you as I've done Veganuary before and enjoyed it 🙂
I don't have dairy anyway and don't eat a lot of meat so found it easy and enjoyable to do.
I always find I eat a lot healthier doing it as I'm more mindful of what I'm eating and not shovelling in crap! 😁

@NoMoreFalafelsForYou yes I'm hoping to undo some of the terrible eating I've done over the last 2 weeks!

What foods did you particularly enjoy before?

I've never done it before, and I think it might be a bit much for the family, but I'm planning to do more meat free meals over the next year.

Had this curry just before Christmas and it was lovely, and will definitely be back on the menu this month

https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/food/2023/oct/22/nigel-slater-recipe-golden-autumn-vegetables-basil-sauce

What foods did you particularly enjoy before?

For breakfast overnight oats, so make up your oats and milk in a bowl the night before.
Add your extras I like sliced banana and a tsp of cinnamon.
Stir all in and leave overnight then I microwave next morning for a min or 2.

For dinners, "sausage" and lentil casserole (the Richmond ones are my fave) or lentil dhal with chapattis and rice.

I’m vegan but happy to offer any tips if anyone needs them 😊 soups, stir frys and pasta sound good, what about curries or a chilli? Are you sorted for vegan butter, milk, sweet stuff?

@kikikikisparks I'm just off to the shop now to get the essentials! Any butter recommendation?

I'm not doing it (we're going to be low carbing), but if I were, I'd make a big slow-cooker vat of home-baked beans - you can freeze them in portions, they're more interesting than canned beans, and are good with baked potatoes, or spicy oven-baked wedges of potato, sweet potato and butternut squash.

I'm vegan, did veganuary and stuck with it. I like the flora plant margarine and alpro my cuppa for tea. Oat milk on cereal.

@Ozzyskye Blocks of Flora plant based butter are lovely and so like the real thing.
Margarine wise Vitalite or Pura are great

Yes to oat milk on cereal, find it goes a bit weird and "curdly" in hot drinks such as tea though. Soya best if you like tea etc

Oat milk is best vegan milk
Alpro yoghurt is good, and great in cooking for raita or adding to curries etc.

If you like hearty food, you could try savoury crumble - roast or bake veg you like in beg broth or passata and top with a crumble of crushed nuts, toasted oats and vegan butter.

Vegan gnochhi bakes are a good alternative to curries and stirfries.

Naturli butter is by far the best I think - in sainburys and waitrose
One of the hardest thing I found when I first did veganuary a few years ago was finding nice vegan sandwich fillers - hummus gets old pretty quickly! There are some nice vegan hams, vegan coleslaw, mayo etc.

My current favourite is:

Bag new potatoes in half, 3 peeled cloves garlic
Bake for 30 mins
Add plum tomatoes, rosemary sprigs, chopped red onion, veggie sausages
Bake for 20 mins

Add crumbled feta for non vegans

Serve with French bread for mopping

I could try a vegetarian January but not vegan. Couldn't give up dairy or eggs. Actually couldn't give up fish either, so the most I could do is give up meat.

It would mean a lot of pasta, not good for carb reduction, and I'm not a fan of rice or potatoes so tricky. ....I also can't eat/dislike anything beany or lentily, so very restricted there.

Love salad and roast veg.

All and any bright ideas welcomed.

Naturli in Waitrose and Sainsbury’s is pricey but by far the best.

I like the blue flora plant but it’s more like butter than marge, it comes out of the fridge solid so it’s hard to spread unless it’s going on something warm.

When you say can’t eat anything lentil or beans is that due to taste, texture or allergies? If you can eat them but don’t like them what about blended in soups? Or vegetable soups? Nut roast? Can you do tofu?

I’ve never tried a savoury crumble but this sounds good!

@EspressoMacchiato good for you, maybe set up a thread to see if any want to join you there?
This is for vegan ideas so bit of a pointless post on here.

@NoMoreFalafelsForYou there's always at least one!

Aren't you hilarious 🙄 <slow clap>

Also unless intolerant maybe stuff like hummus, falafel? You can get lentil or chickpea pasta for a higher protein option.

@bakewellbride there certainly is 😁
It's kind of funny really, can't help themselves lol

It doesn’t say that in the title.

A question was asked, I answered.

Op do you live near an Aldi? I've only been a vegan for 3 months but have discovered they have a really good vegan range - tofu, oat milk, freezer stuff, the grated cheese is actually nice and the soya yoghurt is cheaper than alpro.

Sainsbury's is good for flora plant butter and if you keep it in a butter dish on the side that solves the hardness issue. They also do really nice vegan pestos.

Thai curry from a jar is a good option and sainsburys sell vegan naan bread! Coconut milk is vegan and you can add chickpeas and any veg you want.

Add spinach / peanut butter to oat milk banana milkshakes for extra nutrition.

Nutritional yeast can be added to food to add B12 and protein.

Watching this thread for tips so I can learn more